'Hay box' cooking

Last night we watched a show from Britain called (I think) 'War time farm' recreating what life was like for people during WW11 in Britain. One segment showed the woman of the house bringing a stew up to a boil on the little paraffin stove Then she carefully put the big pot (lid on) in a box with hay packed in it. Then covered the pot with a pillow case full of hay. After a few hours the stew was cooked. Pretty good way to save fuel back then.

I actually have several Danish cookbooks that recommend using a "høkasse" (hay box) to make rice porridge, which can easily burn or stick when made on the stove. Or else they recommend putting the covered pot at the food of the bed, under the down comforter so you can keep your feet warm while your porridge gets ready for breakfast!

I often make stews on the stove and then set them on top of my wood stove to simmer all day long. It's cast iron, so works beautifully. I do have a crockpot, but this works just as well when I've got a fire going anyway!